Immortal Yet Powerful

[A few Hours Later; At Luminous Cosmos]

"I extend a warm welcome to all our esteemed visitors at Luminous Cosmos, a sacred land rich in mana, lovingly preserved by our ancestors, the Nyxdiths." A man with long black hair cascading to his shoulders and styled in a half-bun addressed the gathering with confidence. His hands were clasped as he sat at the expansive arc table that dominated the room, with attendees placed at considerable distances from one another.

"Though we all know each other well, it is our tradition to introduce ourselves," he continued, gesturing toward a man with curly hair, his eyes obscured by his thick bangs, seated third from the right. "Let's begin with you, Luv."

"It is quite the honour that the president of Apostle has noticed a person as insignificant as me," he remarked, his tone laced with mockery. He leaned back in his chair, one hand casually resting on his cheek, sitting in a figure-four stance that screamed indifference. "As you might know, every—"

"It would be best if you stood, Luv," the president interrupted, a gentle smile on his face but with a flicker of irritation evident.

"I would prefer it if you didn't interrupt me while I'm speaking, President," he replied, returning his own smile with a hint of sarcasm. He remained seated and continued, "To introduce myself, I'm a detective; you can call me Luv—no need for a surname since I don't have one."

The atmosphere was decidedly tense; their expressions were somber, as if they were at a funeral.

"I see no one has questions about my lack of a surname. Very well, let's move on." He gestured toward a man seated fourth from the left. This man sat with his knees straight and wore an expression of professionalism, with two moles under each eye, his red ruby eyes framed by jet-black hair. 

"So, it's my turn to introduce myself?" he asked, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "I am Oz. Like Luv, I too have no surname, and I serve as the vice-captain of Aphelion."

"So, what's the deal with those red eyes? Are you wearing contact lenses?" Luv asked, studying him closely. 

"Y-Yes, I wear lenses," he replied, his voice shaky, but he maintained his composure. 

"Are you a cospla—" 

"Luv!" The President interrupted with a cough, "This isn't the time for idle chatter." 

"Oh?" Luv feigned surprise, "I thought we were in a pointless meeting, just like all those years wasted on these trivial gatherings. Enough with the formalities—are we in school or something?" He finally let his frustrations spill out. 

"I must insist, Luv, that you remain silent!" The President raised his voice, emphasizing the need for order.

Without warning, the door swung open, drawing all eyes to the girl standing confidently in a sharp black suit. 

"Miss Ananya? What's the meaning of this unannounced appearance?" the President demanded, his irritation unmistakable. "I specifically prohibited you from attending the World Conference!" 

"I have a crucial matter to discuss... with all of you," she replied, slightly out of breath. 

"Come on, let's hear her out. I was getting bored with this pointless meeting anyway," Luv chimed in, enthusiasm evident in his voice. 

Everyone seemed to agree with Luv, nodding in support. Meanwhile, the President let out a frustrated sigh, clearly disappointed.

"Well if it turned out useless and my time is wasted," the man said, his silver-white hair catching the light and framing his face, highlighting his piercing green eyes. He leaned back nonchalantly in his chair, a relaxed demeanour contrasting with the gravity of their conversation, he sat beside Oz. Ananya's gaze locked into his "Then I will kill you" He threatened.

"Yes, Sir Kai, I'm sure you'll love what I have to say." A bead of sweat slid down Ananya's temple, but her professional smile remained firmly in place. "Can I use the presentation board?"

"Why not just use your magic instead?" the President shot back, eyes narrowed.

"I've already exhausted most of my mana..." Ananya replied smoothly, unfazed.

Kai's gaze sharpened. "Is this about that mission? I couldn't get a single useful detail from your subordinate... What was his name again? Zappy?"

"Zack," she corrected, her voice colder now. She shot him a sharp glare. "I'd appreciate it if you could respect my subordinates in the future." Without waiting for a response, she turned toward the presentation board.

The screen flickered to life, and an intricate web of data and information unfolded before them. At the centre, a photo of a young woman—Kaia—stood, surrounded by a network of details.

Oz's attention snapped to the screen. His eyes narrowed as he studied the information more closely, "This....." but his words caught in his throat. He didn't finish what he had been about to say.

"This is Kaia Aorang," Ananya began, her voice full of enthusiasm. "For years, I've dedicated my research to uncovering the stories of every individual, mana user, and notable figure across this world, organized by country. But it's this girl's history that truly captivated me." 

(Every single one?) Luv pondered, a smile spreading across his face. (What an intriguing individual she is.)

"Kaia..." She inhaled deeply, gathering her thoughts. "Throughout her life, she has faced extremely perilous incidents that nearly claimed her life. Yet, time and again, she has emerged unscathed. The evidence displayed on the board highlights these events, detailing my research into the numerous near-fatal accidents she has endured." 

The President and the others scrutinized the board intently, noting that some incidents were well-known, like the infamous Flummox plane crash, while others involved only a handful of survivors. 

"It's possible that she possesses mana, and no one is aware of it," Luv proposed, raising an intriguing possibility.

"That's what I thought too, so I personally stalk-... I mean, had my eyes on her." She coughed and then continued, "She was attacked by a Level- B monster. When I found her....well...nothing exactly was left...somehow the monster was dead on its own and Kaia was brutally torn apart."

"So you are giving us a lecture about a dead person?" The president's blood boils.

"That's it, she is dead," Kai snapped.

"But....." Ananya exclaimed with enthusiasm. "The fact is...she is alive."

"What?" Everyone was taken aback.

"Let me talk first..... I witnessed her incredible ability to regenerate; I saw her body parts reforming right before my eyes from mere remnants."

"Regeneration is an advanced sorcery, typically reserved for those who reach a high level of mastery in magic," Kai remarked, seemingly both intrigued and astonished. "But to achieve such extensive reformation of the body—entire limbs—cannot simply be categorized as regeneration."

"Yes that's true. Moreover..." She hesitated, then pressed on, "She exhibits no trace of mana within her."

"What?" The group gasped in unison, struck by this revelation. Ananya had confirmed that Kaia indeed possesses no magical essence.

"Now that's what I call a meeting!" Luv exclaimed, laughter erupting from him as he shot the President a playful, teasing glance.

"It could be someone else's magic at play here. You mentioned that the monster perished on its own, which suggests there's a third party involved, someone who has been trying to save her all this time," Kai posited.

"That doesn't seem likely. I didn't detect any magic from a distance or sense anyone else's presence there," Ananya replied thoughtfully. "Yet, the possibility of a third person remains strong, and that individual might not just be an ordinary sorcerer... it's likely they could be a..."

"A Splinter?" Luv interjected.

"Exactly," she confirmed with a nod. "By investigating this girl, we could get closer to averting the prophecy." She stated with conviction.

As the conference continued, whispers and chatter began to echo throughout the room. 

"Is that really Miss Ananya Nyxdith? She's not what I anticipated." 

"She certainly embodies the legacy of the former President of Apostles." 

"I think she might be even more compatible than the current President." 

"Keep it down... he might overhear us..." 

The President's blood boiled as he caught snippets of their conversation, a rush of embarrassment and shame washing over him. He couldn't stand another moment in that room. 

"It's time for me to leave," Oz declared, prompting everyone to glance at the clock; the meeting was nearly over. "I expect you to investigate this matter further... President." 

"Don't you dare give me orders," the President snapped, fury surging within him. "This meeting is adjourned." He stormed out, unable to contain his anger any longer..

As the others departed, only Ananya and Oz remained. Oz moved closer, lowering his voice. "I seriously doubt there's a third person involved." He said, then walked away, leaving Ananya enveloped in confusion. (I've already shared my thoughts; now it's vital to bring Kaia into the Apostles, ideally on my team or Kiaan's. There's no way I'll allow her to slip into Kai's hands.) she pondered.